The corresponding move to Chad Jenkins being optioned to Buffalo last night has been announced and it's none other than Kyle Drabek coming up. The formerly highly-rated prospect made his return from Tommy John surgery earlier this year and had been pitching with the Buffalo Bisons. Drabek, a Texan, was drafted 18th overall in the 2006 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies before coming to the Blue Jays in the Roy Halladay trade. After having some roller coaster seasons with Toronto, Drabek went down last summer with his arm injury and has not taken a Major League mound since then.
The @BlueJays have optioned RHP CHAD JENKINS to @BuffaloBisons and have recalled RHP KYLE DRABEK from the Bisons.
This season Drabek has appeared in 29 games with the Bisons (13 starts), pitching to a 4.00 ERA and a 4.49 FIP. His 6.7% BB-rate is lower than the usual Drabek walk rate, which might be a sign that he has turned his control issues around that plagued the early part of his career with the Blue Jays.
Drabek is already on the 40-man roster so no additional roster shuffling will be necessary to complete the move. Entering the season the righty had 2.071 years of service time and 2014 is his final option year. His last start came on June 13th, so he's already accustomed to his bullpen role and should slot right into the long man role that Jenkins occupied before being optioned. If a spot start needs to be made, it's not out of the question that he could fill that role as well, but hopefully that need never arises.